Library

[Background Information]
Book: Shishi Milu (Secret Records of the Stone Chamber)
Author: Chen Shiduo (Chen Shi Duo)
Dynasty: Qing Dynasty
Chapter: Quan Zhi Fa (Methods for Complete Cure)
Category: Comprehensive

On Treating Lao Disease (Tuberculosis-like Chronic Consumptive Diseases), On Xu Lao (Lao Disease Dominated by Deficiency), On Treating Lao Chong (Parasites/Pathogens Causing Lao Disease)

The Heavenly Master said: What is referred to as "Complete Cure" pertains to treating a person's symptoms of Lao Zhai (a severe chronic consumptive infectious disease). One must not use harsh or drastic medicines for treating Lao disease; instead, it is appropriate to use substances that clear heat and fire from the entire body. (Commentary: The symptoms of Lao syndrome and Xu Sun (Deficiency Injury) are externally very similar, but their treatments differ significantly. Xu Sun involves deficiency of both Yin and Yang; whereas Lao syndrome involves Yin deficiency with Yang hyperactivity. Therefore, Xu Sun can be treated with warming tonification, while Lao syndrome requires clearing and tonifying, avoiding warming methods. Differentiation does not rely on pulse diagnosis; one only needs to observe clothing habits: if others wear thick clothes and this patient wears thin ones, it is Lao syndrome; if others wear thin clothes and this patient wears thick ones, it is Xu Sun. The former is due to bone-steaming tidal fever, the latter due to heat from deficiency of Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi). Recorded by Li Ziyong.) The prescription uses Shudi (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata) 5 qian, Digupi (Lycii Cortex) 5 qian. Although there are many ingredients, the efficacy is mild. Danpi (Moutan Cortex) 2 qian, Yuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix) 1 qian, Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) 3 qian, Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 0.3 qian, Sangye (Mori Folium) 5 leaves, Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) 2 qian, Bei Wuwei Zi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) 5 grains, Fuling (Poria) 2 qian, Qianshi (Nelumbinis Semen) 5 qian, Shanzhuyu (Corni Fructus) 1 qian, Baijiezi (Sinapis Semen) 0.3 qian, Zaoren (Ziziphi Spinosae Semen) 0.5 qian, Shashen (Glehniae Radix) 2 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. (Commentary: This first formula is essentially a Divine Elixir for gentle tonification.) The brilliance of this formula lies in using Digupi as the sovereign herb to enter the Yin level and calm deficient fire without damaging Spleen and Stomach Qi; I additionally added Qianshi and Fuling to promote dampness drainage, allowing Shudi to specifically generate Water within Yin; adding a small amount of Renshen to tonify slight Yang without aiding fire, thereby nourishing Lung Metal; further assisting with Maidong and Wuwei Zi to tonify Lung Metal, so that Metal can generate Water. Once Water is generated, it naturally controls deficient fire, causing Ministerial Fire to subside downward, no longer usurping the authority of the Heart Master (Shen/Spirit). Thus, the whole body remains peaceful. This is the method of complete cure.

There is another method for treating individuals in a state of Xu Lao (Deficiency Labor) who have not yet developed serious Lao Zhai symptoms. The prescription uses Shudi 1 liang, Shanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) 1 liang, Shanzhuyu 3 qian, Maidong 3 qian, Zaoren 1 qian, Renshen 1 qian, Fuling 2 qian, Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 1 qian, Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) 1 qian, Shashen 3 qian, Baijiezi 1 qian, Qianshi 5 qian, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) 3 qian, Yuanzhi (Polygalae Radix) 0.8 fen, Danpi 1 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. This formula also tonifies Qi and Blood throughout the body; it is neither cold nor hot, neither excessive nor insufficient, neither biased nor leaning, representing the formula of the Mean (Zhong Yong). It should serve as the primary formula for treating early-stage Lao Yi (Lao disease). Generally, people today revere Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction for Boosting the Middle and Augmenting Qi). While this formula has its merits, Buzhong Yiqi Tang is most excellent for treating internal injury from diet accompanied by Wind pathogen, but it cannot treat cases of internal injury from Lao Yi without external Wind pathogen. I now created this formula named Heping San (Peaceful Powder) to treat internal injury without external contraction, showing miraculous effects. This is also a method of complete cure.

The previous formulas for treating Lao disease are excellent. If there is no improvement after taking them, there must be Lao Chong (parasites) and Shi Qi (corpse qi/toxicity). In such cases, use another formula: Guijianyu (Arisaematis Cum Bile / Arisaema with gallbladder bile - *Note: Context implies a specific antiparasitic herb, often interpreted as Arisaema or similar, here translated as Guijianyu*) 3 qian, Biejia (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum) 1 liang, Dili Fen (Heptapodi Medullam / Water Chestnut Starch) half jin, Sheng Heshouwu (Polygoni Multiflori Radix Cruda) half jin, Shudi half jin, Shenqu (Massa Medicata Fermentata) 2 liang, Baiwei (Cynanchi Atrati Radix) 3 liang, Renshen 5 qian, Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) 5 qian, Lujiaoshuang (Cervi Cornus Degelatinatum) 6 liang, Digupi 5 liang, Shashen 5 liang. Grind each into fine powder, mix with honey to form pills. After taking the previous decoction daily, swallow 5 qian of these pills, twice a day. (Commentary: Divine Elixir for Eradicating Parasites.) This formula effectively kills parasites without damaging True Yin Qi, truly a skillful method of complete cure. Due to the benevolence of Yuan Gong, I do not hesitate to transmit this completely. There will be no worry about Lao Chong and Shi Qi in the world. Approximately, half a dose of this medicine is sufficient to stop; it is not necessary to finish it all. After taking half a dose of these pills, switch to Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), adding Maidong 3 liang and Wuwei Zi 1 liang. There is no need to create another formula. For those with bone-steaming fever and sweating, Danpi is suitable; for those without sweating, Shashen is suitable; however, Digupi is suitable for both with or without sweating.

Lord Zhang said: Lao disease is the most difficult to treat. It is either biased towards Heat or biased towards Cold; either it uses more clearing herbs or more tonifying herbs. Precisely because there is no standard formula to follow in the current era, Lord Qi Tian Shi has carefully determined these three formulas, combining decoctions and pills. They gently tonify without being extraordinary, possessing mechanisms difficult even for ghosts and gods to fathom. How dare I intrude with my shallow views? However, within supreme divinity, it is acceptable to add some subtle words. The previous decoction can be taken for five doses, then take one dose of my Dihuang Wan Tang (Decoction), then five doses of the previous decoction again, followed by one dose of the remaining Dihuang Tang. By alternating like this, Water will overcome Fire, and Yang will overcome Yin, avoiding the risk of hyperactivity. Although Lord Qi Tian Shi's formula contains more Yin-tonifying than Yang-tonifying herbs, Yang is often in excess and Yin is often deficient. It seems particularly harmless to take more Kidney Water-tonifying agents. The formula uses Shudi 1 liang, Shanzhuyu 4 qian, Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma) 1.5 qian, Danpi 1.5 qian, Shanyao 3 qian, Fuling 3 qian, Maidong 3 qian, Bei Wuwei Zi 0.5 fen. Decoct in water and take orally. This formula is Liuwei Dihuang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Decoction) plus Maidong and Wuwei Zi. I specially adjusted the dosages to demonstrate to the world how to skillfully use Liuwei Dihuang Tang.

Lord Hua said: This is not the method transmitted to me; there is nothing to discuss.

Lord Lei said: I also have a formula to transmit. Once Lao disease has formed, the person is hardest to treat. This is because parasites breed, feeding on the person's Qi and Blood. If one merely tonifies Qi and Blood without knowing to add anti-parasitic ingredients, food entering the stomach will only nourish the parasites rather than generate Qi and Blood. But if one only kills parasites without tonifying Qi and Blood, the Five Viscera will be entirely damaged, leaving no room for life. My formula adds anti-parasitic drugs within strong Qi and Blood tonification. Thus, Yuan Qi (Original Qi) becomes complete, True Yin remains intact, parasites die, and the body becomes safe. The formula uses Renshen 3 liang, Shudi 8 liang, raw Heshouwu 8 liang; Dili Fen 8 liang, Vinegar-fried Biejia 1 jin, Shenqu 5 liang, Maidong 5 liang, Sangye 8 liang, Baiwei 3 liang, Shanyao 1 jin. Grind into fine powder, make into paste; mix with other powdered herbs to form pills. Take 5 qian daily with plain boiled water. After half a year, all parasites will be excreted through stool. My formula and the Heavenly Master's formula each have profound principles; they can be transmitted together.

Master Sun said: For those who have not yet developed Lao disease but are about to, use Shudi 1 liang, Digupi 5 qian, Renshen 0.5 fen, Maidong 5 qian, Bei Wuwei Zi 0.3 fen, Baizhu 1 qian, Shanyao 3 qian, Baijiezi 1 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. The brilliance of this formula lies in gentle tonification without bias. Although Shudi is used in large amounts, Renshen and Baizhu move Qi, easily controlling its cloying nature, thus achieving efficacy. If one claims Renshen and Baizhu aid Yang and Shudi is too damp/wet, the world fails to understand its subtlety.

There is another formula, extremely effective for treating Lao Chong: Feizi (Torreya Seed) half jin, Biejia 1 jin, Dili Fen 8 liang, Ta Gan (Leporis Hepat / Rabbit Liver) one piece, Baiwei 4 liang, raw Heshouwu 1 jin. Grind each into fine powder, mix with honey to form pills. Every night before sleep, take 5 qian on an empty stomach with plain boiled water. After half a dose, strange worm-like substances will appear in the abdomen and be completely excreted. The Heavenly Master's formula is a sacred prescription for treating established Lao Chong, while mine is a wonderful remedy for preventing impending Lao Chong. (Wonderful)